Matches for "Victoria Cup"

Harness racing went through a lot of changes in the 1980s just like the rest of the country and one aspect of that at the time was the emergence of companies such as National Bloodstock who were media darlings until the share market crash of 1987.
National Bloodstock changed the way the whole industry operated and many of the things they brought to the table at the time have had an enduring effect on harness racing in New Zealand.
One thing they did was to import several young broodmares from North America and those mares have left some wonderful pacers and trotters over the last twenty five years.
One of those pacing mares that National Bloodstock imported was the daughter of Temujin called Tabella Bindy.
Covered by National Bloodstock's elite sire Soky's Atom, the first foal from Tabella Bindy was the outstanding colt Desperate Comment 1:55.7 ($1,033,065) who won 28 races on both sides of the Tasman including the Victoria Cup.
Tabella Bindy went on to leave eight winners in total and her daughters and grand daughters have continued to produce quality racehorses.
One grand daughter in the Christian Cullen mare in Maid In Splendour 1:56.1 ($61,825) has her first foal cataloged in this years Australasian Classic Sale at Auckland.
Named Never Say Never he is a colt by champion sire Bettor's Delight.
Maid In Splendour is one of seven winners left by the smart half sister to Desperate Comment in Diamonds N Gold 1:56.5 ($37,883).
Diamonds N Gold's best performer was undoubtedly Diamonds N Furs 1:54.5 ($231,399) who won 22 races in Australia.
Another half sister to Diamonds N Gold in Diamond Belle 1:56.7 left the very smart Chance 1:52.5 ($152,838)
While National Bloodstock mat not have survived very long, their influence on harness racing in New Zealand continues to be felt 25 years later.
Harnesslink Media

The 2015 TAB Victoria Cup came down to ‘gate speed’. The 2240m feature harness racing sprint at TABCORP Park, Melton was taken out by New Zealand star Christen Me who blasted the gate to lead before running away with the $400,000 feature defeating Lennytheshark and Adore Me.
The victory also sends Christen Me to a clear lead in the Australian Pacing Gold Grand Circuit race, a title he claimed last season.
All pre-race talk centred on Beautide, running from gate three and expected to lead from his favourable alley but the mighty pacer was tackling the event on the fresh side, having not raced since the Miracle Mile on November 29 in Sydney.
But champion reinsman Dexter Dunn rolled the dice and charged hard off the gate with Christen Me and led comfortably while Beautide got away in third place.
The decisive tactics from Dunn proved to be a masterstroke.
The lead time was covered in 45.3 seconds.
In-form pacer Philadelphia Man quickly rushed around the outside to race without cover before his stablemate Guaranteed made his move to park outside the leader.
With early moves being made, Beautide was soon shuffled back in the pack, racing midfield.
The first half was covered in 30.4 and 30.3 as Dunn continued to deal with Christen Me in front.
Beautide was flushed out three-wide when champion mare Adore Me commenced her run but the pressure soon hit fever pitch as they entered the back straight for the final time.
Christen Me traveled strongly with Guaranteed matching while Beautide was hustled along deeper on the track.
The third quarter was covered in 27 seconds.
At the top of the straight, Christen Me had sailed away from his rivals while Lennytheshark went back to the passing lane and Adore Me started to charge wider on the track.
At the end, Christen Me scored easily by 2 metres with a further 3.5 metres back to Adore Me in third.
The last section was also recorded in 27 seconds.
The overall time was 2;40.0 and the winning milerate was 1;55.0.
“I was actually surprised how easy I got over at the start; he travelled so easily and rounding the home turn he felt like he was jogging. He’s going better than ever and it’s a credit to everyone involved with the horse.” Winning driver Dexter Dunn declared.
The victory also continues the love affair Christen Me has with Australian racing, the Christian Cullen – Splendid Dreams gelding is yet to miss a place in 10 starts on Aussie soil.
Already this season, Christen Me has claimed the Miracle Mile, NZ Free-For-All, Bendigo Cup and now the Victoria Cup.
Next week, Christen Me will attempt to defend his title in the Gr.1 $400,000 Del-Re National Food Group Hunter Cup.
For Dunn and trainer Cran Dalgety, it is their second Victoria triumph together following their success in 2009 with Bettors Strike.
Dalgety also prepared Desperate Comment who scored back to back victories in 1996/97.
Christen Me now has 210 points in the race to be crowned Grand Circuit champion with three legs remaining; his nearest rival is For A Reason with 150 points.
by Chris Barsby

The West Australian harness racing community will be attached to the radio and television this Saturday night as David Hercules competes in the Group 1, Victorian Pacing Cup worth a massive $400,000.
Trainer Dave Thompson spoke to the TABradio team about his assault on the Victoria Cup at Melton this Saturday night.
“The horse went over on Wednesday night, he seems as bright as a button, went for a jog and everything’s great” Thompson said.
Having drawn nine, Thompson stated that it was one of his more preferred avenues leading into the race, whilst relishing the challenge of the opposition.
“We just have to hope for the best because class wise it’s a step up, it’s probably the best group I’ve seen assembled together for a long long time” he added.
After a brilliant performance in the WA Pacing Cup, seeing a narrow defeat to the swooping My Hard Copy, Thompson seemingly is not one to look in the rear-view mirror, but basking in the moment.
“Some people are saying this is going to be one of the best races ever, so to have one of the runners in it, just makes me so proud of the horse” said Thompson.
“I’m just so lucky to be involved with him” he added.
“I’m even going to try and enjoy this one! Normally I just end up getting too wound up… we just have to sit back and enjoy it”.
David Hercules runs in the Victorian Cup at Melton, race starting at 6:32pm WST, covered extensively on TABradio and seen on Sky Racing.
If you weren't on-course for the $400,000 Western Australian Pacing Cup, or even if you were, do yourself a favour and take a look at one the most dramatic WA Pacing Cup's ever seen at Gloucester Park.
Racing and Wagering Western Australia

If you build it, they will come...
Harness Racing Victoria have hit a home run, not too dissimilar to one of the homers hit by the baseballers in the legendary Kevin Costner movie involving cornfields and ghosts, by changing the summer calendar and launching the TAB Summer of Glory carnival.
The TAB Victoria Cup field tonight is packed with stars and more than one trots pundit believes it to be the greatest and most competitive Victoria Cup field that's been seen in the modern era.
TAB VICTORIA CUP
Saturday night, January 31. Group 1, 2240m, mobile start. 9.32pm
1: LENNYTHESHARK ($9)
“He’s drawn perfectly. He’s second-up from a spell and ran a terrific race first-up in the Shepparton Cup. You don’t want them at 100 per cent first-up and he’ll improve significantly with that run under his belt. Chris (Alford) has options from the draw, so we’ll leave that up to him. Philadelphia Man got away from him at the turn at Shepparton and on the line we were on his wheel.”
- David Aiken (trainer)
2: FRANCO LEDGER ($21)
“He’s great, we’re really happy with him. He’s in the zone at the moment and we’re drawn well. I’d be really happy to be three back the pegs in the run, but one-out and three-back would be fine too. The quicker they go up front the better it’ll be for us.”
- Geoff Webster (trainer/driver)
3: BEAUTIDE ($3.2)
“Really happy with how he’s going. He’s trained well and we’re pretty confident he’s better than he’s been all season. He’s had some good trials and has got a good draw. He’ll come out quick; he’s got really good gate speed.”
- James Rattray (trainer/driver)
4: PHILADELPHIA MAN ($6)
“He was a little bit fresh at Shepparton and he’ll strip fitter for the run. He’s worked terrific during the week. I think he brought himself undone a bit by over-racing last week. I’m happy with gate four. We can run our own race.”
- Emma Stewart (trainer)
5: IM CORZIN TERROR ($81)
“We’re really happy with his work. The draw’s a bit unfortunate; we’d like to swap his draw with Chilli’s. Some people are putting him down but I think he’s the forgotten horse. You look at his run at Kilmore in the Cup when he gave Guaranteed a start and was running on strongly for second.”
- Amanda Grieve (trainer)
6: CHRISTEN ME ($6)
“They will fly the gate and from our barrier we are half in and half out, so Dexter will most likely come out and sit in the middle of the track until the dust settles. From then on we are aiming to position up in the front half of the field rather than the back half.”
- Cran Dalgety (trainer)
7: TERROR TO LOVE ($16)
“We’re getting used to these barrier draws now! It is what it is … I think he’ll come into it later on. It’s the first of a lot of big races coming up. Thinking he’ll just go back and try to work into it at the right time. Everyone sort of forgets how good a sprint he’s got when he’s saved for one go.”
- Paul Court (co-trainer)
8: CHILLI PALMER (1EM) ($51)
“Absolutely thrilled with Chilli, we’ve just got to hope he gets a start. We’re very happy with how he’s come back.”
- Amanda Grieve (trainer)
9: DAVID HERCULES ($41)
“I give him a huge chance. We’re not going to have to do half the work a few of the others will have to do. He’s apparently travelled very well.”
- David Thompson (trainer)
10: GUARANTEED ($4.8)
“His form’s been terrific and he’s come through every run better and better. His work has been terrific.”
- Emma Stewart (trainer)
11: FOR A REASON ($41)
“We were disappointed he pulled at Horsham (in the Cup) and then off 30m with those sectionals last week he had no hope. He’s come on good since that run and he’ll benefit from it. This is a tougher Victoria Cup than last year though. This is probably the best cup field in years. We’ll drive him like last year; come with one run. We’d be thrilled if he ran a place.”
- Luke McCarthy (driver)
12: ADORE ME ($10)
“Adore Me is training very well and we’re pretty excited going into the Victoria Cup. She has travelled really well and it’s a pleasure to be involved with her.”
- Duane Marfisi (stable assistant with Mark Purdon)
13: RESTREPO ($41)
“We’re hoping he’s getting home well and finishing it off strongly. The draw makes it a bit tricky.”
- Emma Stewart (trainer)
ACCESS THE MARKET FOR THE TAB VICTORIA CUP
$200,000 FIRST 4 JACKPOT
Tomorrow night's TAB Victoria Cup will carry a $200,000 First 4 pool guarantee.
There is also a special bonus offer for TAB customers this weekend. Have a fixed odds win bet on the Group 1 TAB Victoria Cup or the Group 1 Hunter Cup, with your TAB account or TAB rewards card, and if your horse runs second or third, you'll score a Bonus Bet up to $50 or equivalent TAB Rewards points.
Bet at the track, your local TAB outlet, via the TAB smart phone app or online at tab.com.au
WIN A $50 TAB VOUCHER
Here’s your chance to win a $50 TAB Voucher. To enter, tell us who you think will win the TAB Victoria Cup on Saturday night. All entrants that pick the winner will go into a random draw and whichever lucky entrant is drawn, wins the $50 TAB Voucher! Entries must be in by no later than 8:30pm on Saturday night 31 January. Must be over 18 years of age to enter. Email competitions@hrv.org.au with the subject WIN. The winner will be notified via email on Tuesday.

Master reinsman Gavin Lang has answered one of the biggest harness racing questions of the weekend.
As the number one driver for the Emma Stewart stable, Lang had a choice between three runners in tomorrow night’s $400,000 Victoria Cup and has made his decision.
Lang’s options where Phildadelphia Man from barrier four, Guaranteed from 10 and Restrepo from 13.
After waiting until the trio had their final workout ahead of the Grand Circuit gem, Lang has selected Guaranteed, which he has driven to four wins and two placings from six starts this season.
Guaranteed has been kept fresh since his brilliant victory in the South Australia Cup three weeks ago.
Talented reinsman Nathan Jack will partner Philadelphia Man, which had his winning sequence broken when a fighting second in last Saturday’s Shepparton Cup.
Heading into the provincial feature, Philadelphia Man had won his previous 11 starts.
Greg Sugars will take the reins behind Restrepo, which was a class above his rivals in the Hamilton Cup a fortnight ago.
With Lang in the cart, Restrepo shrugged off a 30-metre handicap to score in track record time.
Guaranteed is the second favourite at $4.80 behind Beautide, which is sitting on $3.20 despite being first-up for nine weeks.
Philadelphia Man, along with Christen Me, is on $6, with Restrepo one of the outsiders at $41.
Such is the depth of the field, defending champion, For A Reason, is also $41 after drawing awkwardly in gate 11.
PAUL COURTS

Ricky May could hardly believe what he was hearing the other day when he got the call that Terror To Love had drawn the outside of the front line in this weekend's Victoria Cup.
Time and again throughout his appearances in Australia, Terror To Love has drawn the worst possible barrier and Ricky thought they were well overdue for a decent marble.
But that was not to be and while the longest run of bad barriers in major races is set to continue on Saturday night, Ricky is far from conceding defeat with Terror To Love.
" Last year Christen Me came from last at the 400 metres and six wide on the corner to run third so I don't think we are out of it at all"
I drove Monkey King here from the same draw and we ran fourth with a terrible run so with a little bit of luck we can get some of it."
"Seeing Franco Ledger run past them the other night has given the camp some confidence that we can be more than competitive," Ricky said.
Post Saturday Ricky is really looking forward to the standing start Hunter Cup where the draw will not be half as influential as it is on Saturday night.
Before then Ricky has the New Zealand Premier Mares Championship on Friday night at Addington on his radar and once again his drive Helena Jet has drawn poorly.
Twice second to champion mare Adore Me in mares races over Xmas at Alexandra Park, Ricky thought Helena Jet would be very hard to beat with no Adore Me around but the Jeremes Jet mare has had the misfortune to draw outside her main rival, Venus Serena.
Ricky though still thinks he can still find the front from barrier six on Friday night.
" She has blinding gate speed so I am pretty committed to going forward with her."
" She doesn't have many more runs left as she is in foal so we are not going to die wondering."
"I think she is good enough to work early and still win the race," Ricky said.
The master reinsman has been in great touch this season and the chances of a little bit of Ricky May magic over the weekend at both Addington and Melton cannot be discounted.
Harnesslink Media

Despite several setbacks and a lack of racing, Beautide has been installed favourite for what promises to be one of the most exciting harness racing events of the season – Saturday night’s Victoria Cup.
After drawing ideally in barrier three, Beautide has been posted at $3 by TAB.com.au.
Fourth behind For A Reason in last year’s edition, Beautide heads the market in front of stablemates Guaranteed and Philadelphia Man, which are on $5.
Beautide hasn’t raced since finishing second to Christen Me in the Miracle Mile last November.
Others under double figures are Christen Me ($6.50) and Lennytheshark ($9).
“The TAB Victoria Cup promises to be a race for the ages,” TAB’s Andrew Georgiou said. “Beautide is the favourite, but hasn’t raced since his brave second in the Miracle Mile back in November.
“The draw certainly paves the way for trainer-driver James Rattray to slot him into a position close to the speed.”
Within moments of yesterday’s barrier draw, a $3000 wager was placed on Beautide at $3.8.
After opening at $51, comeback pacer Lennytheshark has been a major mover and is on the fourth line of betting at $9.
Lennytheshark was impressive when third in last Saturday night’s Shepparton Cup in his first run since July.
Lennytheshark has drawn perfectly in barrier one for trainer David Aiken.
PAUL COURTS
TAB Victoria Cup – Fixed Odds market
Beautide $3.00
Guaranteed $5
Philadelphia Man $5
Christen Me $6.50
Lennytheshark $9
Adore Me $12
Terror To Love $14
Franco Ledger $21
Chilli Palmer (1em) $41
David Hercules $41
For A Reason $41
Restrepo $41
Im Corzin Terror $71

Former kiwi pacer Easy On The Eye will be aimed at the Hunter Cup after his win in Monday's Frank and Edna Day Goulburn Cup. The Shane Tritton trained gelding led throughout to record his second Australian win but his 17th victory overall.
"Easy On The Eye's form is faultless since he joined my stable if you ignore the Miracle Mile run and on that occasion we simply overdid it early," Tritton said.
"I was extremely happy with his performance at Goulburn, he worked to the lead and controlled the race throughout so now I will take him to Victoria and hope to get a start in the Hunter Cup."
Tritton did nominate Easy On The Eye and Suave Stuey Lombo for this Saturday night's Victoria Cup but both failed to make the final field.
"We want to wish the connections of horses in the Victoria Cup the best of luck, it should be a great race, it is just a pity Suave Stuey Lombo couldn't gain a start because we would have started from the carpark if they had let us."
"Easy On The Eye, Artistic Flite and Yayas Hot Spot will all go to Victoria this week and then after Saturday night's Ranji Bill Stakes at Menangle I will also send one of my four mares down but I just want to wait and see what happens this weekend first."
The leading driver in New South Wales, Lauren Panella will drive at Melton on Saturday night and Tritton confirmed drivers that he has used recently will get another opportunity.
"A lot of the drivers who have been driving for me will retain their drives this week, outside of Lauren I have been using David Morris, Bruce Birch and Blake Fitzpatrick as well."
"We will go down for two weeks and be back for the Inter Dominion heats in Sydney."
By Greg Hayes

For A Reason’s prospects of joining an elite harness racing fraternity have been hampered by a shocking draw in Saturday night’s Victoria Cup.
A stylish winner of last season’s edition, For A Reason is aiming to become just the third champion to defend his title since the race became a Grand Circuit event in 1987.
Bag Limit was the first to claim consecutive wins, having emerged triumphant for the late Bob and Vin Knight.
Known as the Winfield Gold Cup at the time, Bag Limit’s second victory in 1988 was the foundation for Vin’s famous “yous who are booing” speech.
New Zealand star Desperate Comment became the second back-to-back winner when he was successful in 1996 and ’97.
The only other pacer to win the Grand Circuit event twice is Sinbad Bay, which scored in 1989 and 1991.
Also a member of the Knight stable, Sinbad Bay missed the 1990 version through injury.
Before the Cup’s acceptance on the Grand Circuit, Popular Alm – another Knight runner – won the 1982 and ’83 versions.
Koala King is the true star of the feature, with his victories in 1978, ’79 and ’80.
That brings us back to For A Reason, which will begin from barrier 11 for New South Wales trainer Belinda McCarthy.
“The draw certainly makes life tough,” McCarthy said. “From there is he going to need a bit of luck.
“His work has been great and we are very happy with him heading into this.
“He just never got into the Shepparton Cup on the weekend from his 30-metre handicap, so you can forget he even went around.
“He is going as good as he was when he won last year, he just hasn’t had much luck during his last couple of starts.”
PAUL COURTS

Gammalite, Our Sir Vancelot, Thorate, Village Kid, Westburn Grant and Im Themightyquinn have so many things in common.
Each has earned more than $1million, captured numerous Group Ones, been Australian Horse of the Year and can lay claim to the status of a champion.
The sextet has also enjoyed success in the race regarded as the industry’s ‘holy grail’ – the Inter Dominion.
It is fair to assume most people will make the reasonable declaration the Inter Dominion is the hardest event on the harness calendar to win.
No doubt a survey among participants will back up the theory, but here is something which may change that way of thinking – or in the very least, provide food for thought.
The Victoria Cup is harder to capture than the Inter Dominion.
Sure, the first reaction will be ‘No way’, but consider a few facts first.
The above mentioned stars, which have won an amazing 55 Grand Circuit races between them, couldn’t win Victoria’s premier mobile feature from several attempts.
In fact, since its inception in 1974, the Cup – which was known as the Winfield Gold Cup until 1989 – has only been won by six Inter Dominion stars.
Three of those have been during the past 15 years and three of the six won the Inter Dominion after their Cup triumph.
With the exception of the Victoria Cup, the elite fraternity has won every state’s flagship race.
So does that make the Cup the most difficult race to win?
Record-breaking horseman Vic Frost, who prepared Westburn Grant, believes it is.
“I didn’t realize so many champions couldn’t win that race,” Frost said. “It just goes to show how difficult the Victoria Cup is to win and that’s saying something.
“We took him everywhere and enjoyed success all over the place, but he just couldn’t crack the Cup.
“That Cup was the thorn in his side – Westburn Grant’s kryptonite.”
Westburn Grant had three starts in the Group One, with two fourths his best results.
The son of Land Grant competed in 1990, ’92 and ’93, finishing fourth behind Sovereign Cloud and Master Musician and fifth behind Franco Ice.
For the record, Westburn Grant, which retired as the nation’s richest stallion with earnings of $2,074,916, was triumphant in two West Australia Cups, two Miracle Miles, the Queensland Pacing Championship, M H Treuer Memorial, two South Australia Cups and the Australian Pacing Championship.
Village Kid crossed the Nullarbor twice for the race and found Bag Limit his nemesis on both occasions.
Retiring as the nation’s richest pacer, Village Kid secured two Miracle Miles, the M H Treuer Memorial, two Fremantle Cups, Australian Pacing Championship, four West Australia Cups and the A G Hunter Cup on his way to earning $2,117,870.
Just like Village Kid’s strong affiliation with the WA Cup, Gammalite had a bond with South Australia’s pinnacle event.
The Leo O’Connor-trained iron horse captured the SA Cup on four consecutive occasions between 1982 and 1985.
Gammalite, which retired as the richest pacer in the Southern Hemisphere, was a star from the time he made his debut and grabbed his first Group One when he secured the SA Derby.
Gammalite’s Winfield Gold Cup outings resulted in a second behind Frosty Imp in 1981, fourth behind Popular Alm in 1982 and second to the same pacer in 1983.
Gammalite’s Grand Circuit wins include the Queensland Pacing Championship and West Australia and A G Hunter Cups.
During the ‘Winfield’ era, Brian Hancock won the race on three consecutive occasions with Koala King, but has failed to enjoy the glory from 12 attempts in the feature since the switch to mobile.
Hancock was represented during the latter starts by Thorate and Our Sir Vancelot, which were both beaten in the last stride in one of their attempts.
Thorate had four starts in the Cup for a second, third, fourth and last.
A son of King Kellanie, Thorate managed to emerge triumphant in the Queensland Pacing Championship, M H Treuer Memorial, South Australia Cup and Tasmanian Championship.
Like Thorate, which was beaten by a half-head by Sovereign Cloud, Our Sir Vancelot was denied his glory by the narrowest of margins when Brabham scored in 1998.
Our Sir Vancelot’s other starts resulted in a third behind Holmes D G in 1999 and a fourth behind Desperate Comment in 1997.
The first pacer to capture three Inter Dominion titles, Our Sir Vancelot retired with earnings of $2,197,990 to take the crown as the nation’s richest pacer from Village Kid.
Our Sir Vancelot boasts the Miracle Mile, two M H Treuer Memorials, the South Australia Cup, Australian Pacing Championship and two West Australia Cups among his victories.
Then there is the ‘Western Wonder’ – Im Themightyquinn.
One of only three pacers to capture three or more Inter Dominions, Im Themightyquinn was void of luck each time he has competed in the Cup.
The Gary Hall-trained champion has two thirds and a last from his three starts in the time-honoured event.
Im Themightyquinn was retired last year with an outstanding record of 58 wins and 34 placings from 111 starts for earnings of $4,567,456 to be Australasia’s second richest behind Blacks A Fake ($4,575,438).
Im Themightyquinn’s victories include three WA Cups and three Fremantle Cups.
PAUL COURTS

The anticipation ahead of Saturday night’s TAB.com.au Victoria Cup is palpable.
Tabcorp Park Melton will be the grand stage as 12 genuine harness racing top liners compete for summer Group One glory, with $400,000 on the line over 2240 metres.
Barring any eleventh-hour misfortunes, the general consensus is nine of the 12 Victoria Cup spots have been locked away and the remaining three holes will be filled with runners from a group of five contenders.
You can’t fit five horses into three spots, so there will be at least two hard-luck stories when the field is revealed ahead of the barrier draw tomorrow morning.
And there will almost certainly be a host of other horses who in previous years would be lining up in the Victoria Cup, but will this year miss out.
The ‘locks’ are said to be Guaranteed ($4.50), Philadelphia Man ($5.5), Beautide ($5.5), Adore Me ($7), Christen Me ($6), Terror To Love ($8), Im Corzin Terror ($51), For A Reason ($26) and David Hercules ($26).
The other five – also known as “lineball runners” - are believed to be Franco Ledger ($18), Suave Stuey Lombo ($51), Avonova ($41), Lennytheshark ($10) and Restrepo ($26).
And then there are the likely ‘hard luckers’, consisting of Chilli Palmer ($51), Arden Rooney ($101), Bit Of A Legend ($101), Flaming Flutter ($101), Blazin N Cullen ($201), Chancellor Cullen ($201), Cold Major ($201), Easy On The Eye ($201), Mach Alert ($201) and Monifieth ($201).
There will be much debate all week about just where this field stacks up in the list of “all-time great Victoria Cup fields”.
However, when you consider the quality and form of the runners who will miss a start in the race, it’s not hard to mount an argument that this race has the makings of an absolute classic.
Let the debate about who should get into the field and why begin – and let the countdown to the field of dreams continue.
This is going to be fun.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION ON TWITTER: TWEET YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT WHO SHOULD BE IN THE VICTORIA CUP AND WHY TO @HRVNEWS WITH THE #SOG HASHTAG.
HRV Media

Former New Zealander Franco Ledger sealed his position in two of harness racing’s biggest events with his success at Shepparton tonight.
Thanks to his victory in the club’s flagship feature, Franco Ledger is certain to gain a berth in next Saturday night’s Victoria Cup and the A G Hunter Cup the following week.
Should the seven-year-old race up to expectations, he will also compete in an Inter Dominion heat of February 14.
Australasia’s pinnacle event, the Inter Dominion Final is scheduled to be held at Tabcorp Park Menangle on March 1.
Since being transferred to local trainer Geoff Webster, Franco Ledger has won two of his three starts, while finishing fifth in the South Australia Cup after over racing a fortnight ago.
During his two victories, Franco Ledger has been driven with a sit, which Webster stated is obviously the best way to drive the son of Falcon Seelster.
“In his first-up win at Melton and again tonight he has finished brilliantly when given the chance to come with one big run in the straight,” Webster said. “Both times he has hit the line hard and felt terrific.
“In South Australia when he led, he got on the steel pretty hard, which ultimately cost him.
“With that said, he is obviously suited to being driven for a bit of luck.”
With Webster in the cart during his latest triumph, Franco Ledger began slowly from the pole to settle two-back along the pegs as Lennytheshark and then hot favourite, Philadelphia Man led.
Finishing swiftly along the passing lane, Franco Ledger sprinted to a two-and-a-half metre win from Philadelphia Man, with Lennytheshark three metres away third in his first run since last July.
“He got a nice trip along and when the opening came, he was good enough to take advantage of it,” Webster said. “Down the back and around the home turn I knew he was travelling well and I was positive he’d run in the top three.
“Once he straightened he just sprinted so well and rounded them up pretty easily.
“That should be enough to see him make his way into the Victoria and Hunter Cups.”
Covering the last half in a slick 55.1 seconds, the stallion rated 1:58.9 for the 2690-metre journey, with his time just five-tenths of a second outside Mr Feelgood’s track record set in the 2009 Cup.
PAUL COURTS

Boom local Guaranteed is now a clear favourite for Victorian harness racing’s two biggest events.
Following a weekend of impressive wins and questions raised, Guaranteed is topping TAB’s Fixed Odds markets for the Victoria and A G Hunter Cup.
The Emma Stewart/Clayton Tonkin-trained stallion is $5 for the Victoria Cup, which is scheduled to be conducted at Tabcorp Park Melton on January 31.
Guaranteed was $6 when markets opened last month, with Beautide favourite at $4.
Beautide is now on the fourth line of betting at $7 after being scratched from last Saturday night’s Bendigo Cup.
The James Rattray-trained gelding hasn’t races since his second behind Christen Me in the Miracle Mile last November.
Beautide was also nominated for the Ballarat Cup on December 13, but Rattray elected not to accept due to a setback.
An ultra-impressive winner of Saturday night’s Bendigo Cup, Christen Me is at $5.50 along with Philadelphia Man – a stablemate of Guranteed – which has come in from $10.
Although he hasn’t raced since beating Guaranteed in the Vicbred Final last July, Lennytheshark has been a surprise market mover on the strength of his strong tial.
A member of the David Aiken stable, Lennytheshark’s quote has come in from $31 to $21.
Beautide was also the early favourite for the Hunter Cup on February 7, but Rattray decided to bypass the event when it became obvious the son of Bettors Delight wouldn’t meet the conditions.
To qualify for the time-honoured event, candidates must have completed a satisfactory standing start under race conditions. Beautide hasn’t raced from behind the tapes since April 2013.
Originally posted at $6, along with New Zealand mare, Adore Me, Guranteed is a clear favourite at $4.50, with Adore Me next at $5.50 for trainer Mark Purdon.
Christen Me and Terror To Love are at $6, with Philadelphia Man on $9.
Following his demolition of yesterday’s Hamilton Cup field, proven campaigner, Restrepo, has been the biggest market mover.
Also hailing from the Stewart/Tonkin camp, Restrepo had his price slashed from $21 to $12, giving the power couple three of the top six Hunter Cup prospects.
There have been several adjustments over the past few days the most notable being Restrepo which firmed from $21 to $12 for the stand-start Hunter Cup following his impressive win in the Hamilton Pacing Cup today. He remains at $21 for the Victoria Cup (unchanged).
PAUL COURTS

Leading TAB.com.au Summer of Glory player Christen Me scored an all-the-way win in tonight's harness racing $50,505 Group 2 Petstock Bendigo Pacing Cup.
The Cran Dalgety trained Kiwi superstar cleared out late for reinsman Dexter Dunn in the 2650m race, clocking a 54.1-second last half after being unchallenged in front mid-race, scoring a 14.1-metre win over runner-up Smudge Bromac.
First-up since finishing second to Terror To Love in a stirring Cranbourne Pacing Cup on December 6, Christen Me – the winner of last year's Miracle Mile in Sydney and the reigning Hunter Cup champion – will be hard to beat in the Victoria Cup on January 31.
Dunn was typically cool throughout tonight’s contest despite concession reinsman Zac Phillips pulling the first surprise off the arm and dashing to the lead from gate seven aboard outsider Hall Of Famer.
The son of Christian Cullen quickly assumed the front with Hall Of Famer snaring the leader’s back.
Im Corzin Terror and driver Alex Ashwood got mobile early and worked around to find the breeze before more moves came as the pace slowed.
Chilli Palmer (Chris Alford), first-up from a spell, eased back to last early and the slow speed didn’t suit his cause.
However, the son of Elsu was the eye-catcher of the race, launching home out wide in the home straight to just miss second in a photo-finish. His late splits will be super and many punters will pencil him into their black book.
Smudge Bromac (Nathan Jack) produced a big run in second, the nine-year-old David Aiken trained entire the first of Aiken’s four cup runners over the line (Cold Major fifth, Wartime Sweetheart sixth and Jaccka Clive ninth).
Bendigo Cup Finishing Order
1: Christen Me
2: Smudge Bromac
3: Chilli Palmer
4: Im Corzin Terror
5: Cold Major
6: Wartime Sweetheart
7: Uncle Wingnut
8: Jaccka Clive
9: Hall Of Famer
Group 2 Petstock Bendigo Pacing Cup
by Cody Winnell
Courtesy of Harness Racing Victoria

Harness Racing's millionaire pacer Terror To Love is on the slow burn while his rivals are on fire.
But co-trainer Paul Court isn’t letting a weekend of remarkable performances from those rivals intimidate their camp heading into the richest five weeks in harness racing.
Almost all of pacing’s open class superstars will converge on Victoria in two weeks for the race of the year, the A$400,000 Victoria Cup, to be followed by the Hunter Cup a week later, the A$750,000 Inter Dominion and then for some the Auckland Cup.
That means in the space of 34 days the elite pacers can race for $1.9million in stakes and the big guns are already firing.
Adore Me fired the first shot when she sat parked and effortlessly paced 1:51.6 in the Flying Mile at Cambridge on Friday night before two Emma Stewart-trained pacers threw down the gauntlet to the Kiwis in Australia over the weekend.
Miracle Mile placegetter Guaranteed also sat parked before obliterating the track record in an admittedly weak South Australia Cup on Saturday night, but regardless of the standard of the opposition it was a serious win.
Then on Sunday his stablemate Philadelphia Man lived up to his huge hype by sitting parked and crushing For A Reason in another track record Horsham Cup.
So that trio are going into the Victoria Cup on January 31 in faultless form while pacing’s two greatest arch rivals Beautide and Christen Me renew their rivalry in the Bendigo Cup this Saturday.
But while all of this is happening, three-time New Zealand Cup winner Terror To Love is cooling his heels in Canterbury, ready for a short, sharp Australian assault.
He hasn’t raced since a bizarre defeat in the Ballarat Cup on December 14 and won’t even start the public side of his campaign until next week.
“We will take him to the trials at Ashburton next Tuesday,” says Court.
“And then he will go straight to Melbourne and he will go into the Victoria Cup fresh.”
Court and his father Graham know that will likely leave Terror To Love a touch underdone for the first battle of the giants but they are thinking longer term.
“He is well in himself and didn’t really put any weight on when he had his two weeks off after the Ballarat Cup,” says Paul.
“And he does go well fresh so he can still be a factor in the Victoria Cup.
“But the way some of these other horses are racing it will be a awfully hard race to win and you will need a lot of luck.
“Whereas I think he will improve through that entire campaign and the week after, the Hunter Cup, is probably more his go being a standing start staying race.
“Then we have the Inters so by then maybe some of these other horses who have raced over the summer might be getting a little tired and we should still be going.”
Court says while two years ago Terror To Love may have struggled with the busy racing schedule he is about to embark on, he showed he can handle it now by winning the Cranbourne Cup last month after a huge month of racing on both sides of the Tasman.
“We are happy with where we are at but we have also been watching all those other horses running fast times over the weekend and we know none of these races are going to be easy to win.
“So I think it is going to be a pretty incredible month.”
Courtesy of Michael Guerin - Harness Racing New Zealand